Modelling colors - a comparison ...

by Christian Jakl

It is all in the colors (An attempt to clarify the confusion about modeling
colors and a comparison of the products of major manufacturers). Who can
navigate through the color jungle? The times are gone when one had to purchase
the colors offered by the manufacturers of plastic kits and then had to
tediously mix the right color tone at home.

Today, upon entering any model shop one is confronted by color displays
from many manufacturers. How does one make the right choice with such a
varied selection? In this evaluation we shall look at some manufacturers
whose products we have used and tested. We are not looking at price here
since the differences are negligible. The following criteria were important
for us:

ACRYL or ENAMEL? Different thinners are
necessary for each. ENAMELS should be thinned by following manufacturers
recommendations while ACRYL colors can be thinned with water, denatured
alcohol, or isopropyl alcohol. Bad smelling and dangerous fumes are not
major problems with acrylics. We did observe however that when thinned with
water, acrylics do not dry as matte as one would wish.

Quality:

Colors that are easily sprayed with an airbrush are sometime difficult to
apply with a paintbrush. Enamels lend themselves better to paintbrush application,
especially for dry brushing. Naturally there are exceptions. Coarsely ground
color pigments make work with an airbrush difficult.

Color
palette:

The larger the number of colors by a particular manufacturer the less the
chance for having to mix a particular color. The labeling of the various
color tones is very important here. Caution is advised here, for the same
color tone labeled on the bottle by different manufacturers do not give
the same results.

Mixing:

ENAMELS and ACRYLICS cannot be mixed. Problems can also arise when mixing
the same color type. GUNZE and TAMIYA colors, both ACRYLICS behave quite
differently when mixed. When mixed they have a tendency to become lumpy.
REVELL and HUMBROL on the other hand mix quite well. If you paint a model
with different color types make sure that the coat has dried thoroughly
before applying a different color type.

Bottling:

The amount in the bottle is relative because when using an airbrush the
color has to be thinned. The amount available will be determined by the
amount the color is thinned down. Glass bottles have the advantage that
they can be used again. Their screw tops have the further advantage that
the colors have less of a tendency to dry out.

Cleaning:

Most colors can be removed from the airbrush with "Nitro thinner".
(A degreasing agent seemingly available only in Europe.) It is a mixture
of Acetone and Naphta. LIFE-COLOR can be cleaned out of the airbrush with
water or its own specific cleaner. Generally all colors are easy to clean
up whether airbrush or paintbrush.

for all
colors (except: JPS-Colors) a color-chart is available
for download as PDF-File, you will need Acrobat Reader
4.x (or higher) for reading or printing (free):

ANDREA

60 colors available, ACRYLICS, 17ml plastic
bottles

ANDREA colors were produced to paint their
own figures. Colors for painting of vehicles etc. are not to
be found. For figure painting in dioramas they are excellent.
Brush application is first class.

Best colors for brush
application

Can be thinned with
water

Excellent screw cap,
makes measuring of paint easy

Excellent for dry
brushing

Reusable bottle

No smell

Airbrush application
limited

Small assortment,
aimed at figures of the manufacturer

GUNZE-SANGYO

161 colors available, ACRYLICS, 10ml glass
bottles

Many application ready color tones for military
aircraft of all nations. Emphasis WW2. Best color for airbrush
application. So far no problems have been encountered with GUNZE
colors. One word of caution. Some colors are labeled with a
W. This W stands for "weathering". Coarse pigments
were added to these colors to simulate dirt. This can lead to
the clogging up of your airbrush. Another drawback is that many
colors come in semi-gloss. This is not necessary if you use
future or clear-gloss when applying decals.

Excellent for airbrush
application

Many applicable color
tones, makes mixing unnecessary

Dry fast

Can be thinned with
alcohol or water

RLM and FS colors
(sadly no RLM72 and 73)

Glass bottles, reusable

No smell

Brush application
has limitations

Hard to find

Not very good for
dry brushing

GUNZE METAL COLOR

6 colors available, ACRYLICS, 23ml glass
bottles

Airbrush ready colors that can be buffed.
Only six colors are available. The colors do not have to be
thinned and can be polished in 24 hours. There are a few problems
with lifting. The surface has to be primed or lightly sanded
or the color will lift during masking or handling.

Perfect airbrush application

good results when
polished

ready to airbrush
do not have to be thinned

Glass bottle is re-useable

No smell

Not enough colors

Brush application
difficult

surface needs to be
primed

HUMBROL

151 colors available, ENAMEL, 14ml tin

The largest and oldest manufacturer of colors
for model building. Best known brand. The tops of the tins are
a drawback. After the second use, the top is hard to close flush
and hence the danger of pre-mature drying out becomes a problem.
HUMBROL has the most FS colors. This makes the painting of American
colors easy.

Very good for airbrush
and brush application

Very good for dry
brushing

Large selection of
colors

Uniform colors are
also considered

Excellent gloss finishes

Dry quickly

Metal tones can be
polished

Easy to find

Typical enamel odor

Empty tins not reusable

LIFE-COLOR

155 colors available, ACRYLICS, 22ml plastic
bottle

Working with these colors takes a little practice.
They behave a little different despite the fact that they are
acryl colors. Thinning is possible only with water. Some colors
react to alcohol by making the mixture rather thick. When shaken
with water they foam. Color chart is necessary since all bottles
look the same on the outside (black screw top) Ask for a color
chart when you buy. A nice feature is a thickening agent. If
a color is too thin then it can be thickened with the use of
this agent. A thinning agent is also offered but not necessary.

Large selection

Can be thinned with
water

Brushes well

Plastic bottle can
be reused

Very fine pigmentation,
very smooth spray finish

FS labeled

No smell

Thickening agent

Color assortment not
very well organized

Foaming when shaken

Long drying time

Can only be removed
with water or its own thinner (and with a ammonia-based
household cleaner)

MODEL MASTER ACRYL

173 colors available, ACRYLICS, 15ml glass
bottles

Here is a manufacturer that really provides
everything. Model Master offers acrylics and enamels and divides
them into different categories. There is something for everybody.
Whether one chooses to paint ones models with an airbrush or
prefers to paint figures with a regular brush, you can find
it with Model Master. Paints for cars, ships and fantasy figures
are available. Even the often forgotten RLM 72 and 73 of the
Luftwaffe are available. There are also FS matched colors available.
Primer colors and decal softening solutions are also part of
the extensive selection. If you have waited for certain colors
to appear then you are in the right palace here. User-friendliness
is comparable to Gunze paints. Spray applications provide a
smooth even finish. Can also be brush painted.

Large assortment

Perfect airbrush application

Glass bottles are
re-useable

Can be thinned with
rubbing alcohol or denatured alcohol

Many flesh tones available

Not readily available (in Austria)

MODEL MASTER & MODEL MASTER II

122 colors available, ENAMEL, 15ml glass
bottles

The smaller number of colors can be explained
by the fact that FS colors are offered separately. All important
colors can be found here. This is the perfect selection for
those who would like to stick with enamels.

Large assortment

Perfect airbrush application

Glass bottles are re-useable

Typical Enamel smell

Thinner available
only in small quantity bottles

slow drying time

MODEL MASTER METALIZER

15 colors available, ENAMEL, 15ml glass bottles

Here are colors only for metal coating of
outright metal parts. These colors are very thinned down and
work very well with airbrush and brush. After they have dried
they can be polished with a soft cloth. This increases the glossy
quality however. Good, precise assembly and filling and sanding
are essential because the thinness of the color will show any
imperfections. Drops may develop during airbrushing.

Perfect airbrush application

Can be polished

Glass bottle is re-useable

Dry quickly

Although enamels,
no noticeable smell

Does not react very
well to the use of turpentine

REVELL

REVELL-Germany emphasizes mixing but is the
only manufacturer that offers an airbrush series. The little
bottle fits the screw cap of the AZTEK 470 airbrush. The color
selection however does not give specific color tones (part.
RAL). German Luftwaffe color suggestions are found in instruction
sheets but really have to be mixed. Revell products can however
be bought on every street corner (in Europe!).

Very good for brush
application

Very good for dry
brushing

Has its own airbrush
series, fits AZTEK 470 screw cap

Good quality gloss
colors for vehicles

RAL listing

Airbrush bottles can
be reused

Available everywhere
(in Europe)

Typical enamel smell

Important colors are
missing, requires mixing

Tins cannot be reused

REVELL AQUA COLOR

36 colors available, ACRYLICS, 18 ml plastic
container

The manufacturer advertises under the motto:
"waterbased colors with great opacity, (covering quality)"
They really meet this standard. REVELL follows the trend, for
a healthier and less smelly work environment.Currently ther
are only 36 colors and it is entirely possible that with increasing
sale of the acrylic colors the production of enamels will decrease
and more acrylic colors will become available. The directions
call for plain tap water as a thinner. Correct, however the
percentage of 20-25% water is only an approximate value.The
modeler has to find the correct mix through trial and error.
The first tests had very positive results. Whether with brush
or airbrush the covering qualities were good and a smooth surface
was achieved. It is very important that with metallic and gloss
colors an airbrush should be used. These colors are recommended
for beginners and children but more advanced modelers can also
get very satifactory results. The only criticism I have is that
not enough colors are available. I hope that various Luftwaffe
colors will be available from Revell , making the mixing of
colors unnecessary.

TAMIYA

Acryl and Enamels are offered in the same
color tones. It is too bad that the colors in the spray cans
are not also available in bottles. That is why in Tamiya instructions
mixing is recommended when it comes to bottles but only the
code for spray cans are given. These color tones would be important
to have in bottles, for they are all for aircraft color schemes.

Excellent for airbrush
application

Many color tones for
military vehicles

Dry fast

Can be thinned with
water or alcohol

Glass bottles can
be reused

No smell

A few color tones
only available in spray cans

Brush application
problematic

VALLEJO Model Color

208 colors available, ACRYLICS, 17 ml plastic
bottles

A color assortment that leaves little to wish
for. Glazes, thinners, retarders, masking material and metallic
colors, it is all there. Figure painters will be overjoyed.
It is no coincidence that the bottle shapes bear a strong resemblance
to Andrea colors. The colors cover after the first coat. If
applied too thickly the colors will appear a bit greasy.(Thinable
with Propylene-Glycol)

Good color for brushing

Thinning with water

Practical cap, easy
to dispense colors

Good for dry brushing

Plastic bottle re-useable

No smell

airbrush application
problematical

VALLEJO Model Air

96 colors available, ACRYLICS, 17 ml plastic
bottles

These colors were designed by Vallejo to be
sprayed directly from the bottle. In order to compete with other
manufacturers however there is a lack of variety and types of
colors. The colors spray easily and dry very smoothly and can
be thinned with water. In order to clean the airbrush you can
forget Nitro thinner. In order to remove the color you need
an ammonia mixture as is found in window cleaners or Propylene-Glycol.

Perfect airbrush application

ready to airbrush
do not have to be thinned

Plastic bottle re-useable

No smell

Not enough colors
yet

Cannot be used with
a brush

Airbrush cleaning
difficult

Conclusion:

On the typical workbench most paint manufacturers will be represented. Some
paints for the airbrush others for the paintbrush, some because the other
manufacturer does not make it. The qualities of paints in general today
are on a high level. Problems that arise are usually not the fault of the
manufacturer. Practice makes perfect and the individual works out his own
procedures. The only problem that keeps occurring is what to do with the
myriad of bottles and tins and how long it takes to find the proper color
only to realize that it has dried up or is gone.

meet the author

Christian Jakl

I was born in Vienna in 1971 and now I live in the middle of the mountains in the Tyrol district. I am in marketing and my specialty is graphic design and layout. Ships, planes and automobiles is how it started and now I have taken up aircraft models only. I concentrate on the German and Soviet air force. My favorite mode of display are dioramas in 1/48 scale. Here I can let my imagination run wild and can produce many of parts. Experimentation and the use of new techniques are foremost on my mind. I also combine stock kits with other add onís and try out new tools. There is always a lot to learn.

It is not all that important to me if a detail is no exactly in the right spot; the final product has to look right. If somebody stands in front of my model and is enthused then I did my job right. The only problem I have is the time factor and in this I probably not alone. I wish everybody a lot of fun with this page and hope that critiques and comments are forthcoming.

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